Free wheeling door lock



Feb. 28, 1961 w. G. GILMORE El'AL 2,973,216

FREE WHEELING DOOR LOCK Filed June 16, 1958 2 h ets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS w/umw 6. 6/4/1401?! Feb. 28, 1961 w. G. GILMORE EI'AL ,97 6

FREE WHEELING DOOR LOCK Filed June 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORJ W/MMM 6. 6/4 410::

By'l a?! A. Z/JBE 4 4 ORA 67 6 States FREE WHEELING DGQR LDCK William ifleorg Gilmore and Elmore L. Zibbell, Detroit,

Filed June 16, 1958, Ser. No. 742,192

13 Claims. (Cl. 292280) The present invention relates to improvements in an automotive door lock of the type in which locking of the door is accomplished by disabling an outside door operating handle from performing its normal function, and when the door is unlocked, of releasing a latch holding detent or locking member of the look from its movable latch bolt. The action is performed by, in efiect, free wheeling the outside operated member, in contrast to another well known type of lock, in which unlocking motion of the outside operated member is positively blocked when the lock is in locked condition.

The present lock involves refinements and a simplification of the lock which is the subject matter of a copending application of Joseph Pickles, Serial No. 587,827, filed May 28, 1956, now Letters Patent No. 2,876,032, of March 3, 1959.

It is an object of the invention to provide an automotive door lock of this so-called free wheeling or handle disabling type, in which the outside operating member of the door is at all times mechanically connected operatively with other linkage structure of the lock. Such structure includes an actuating member which remains engaged with the latch holding detent member or lever of the lock and partakes of movements of the outside operated member when the lock is in its locked, free wheeling condition, but which is disabled from disengaging the holding member from the latch bolt in this condition.

The invention is in this respect materially distinguished from hitherto known free wheeling type, handle disabling locks, in which the operating structure or linkage is physically disconnected from the detent member or lever for the free wheeling motion of the linkage in locked condition.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a lock as described, including a mounting frame applicable to an automotive or like door and mounting a latch member,

preferably of the rotative bolt type, for coaction with a keeper unit mounted on adjacent fixed frame structure. In a setting of this sort the lock has as its features of improvement 21 holding or detent member or lever pivotally mounted on the first named lock frame; a control member similarly pivoted to swing on that frame, preferably on a common axis with the holding member; an outside handle operated actuator movably carried by the frame; a linkage operatively connected pivotally between this actuator and the control member, at a point on the latter spaced from its frame pivot, the linkage acting to transmit releasing movement from the actuator through the control member to the detent member when the control member is blocked from swinging movement; and an abutment member movable on the frame into and out of position in which it blocks the swinging movement of the control member in response to operation of said linkage by the outside actuator or operator.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a lock of the sort described in the. preceding paragraph, in which 2,973,216 Patented Feb. 28,

the mentioned linkage includes an actuator or force transa mitting link providing the pivot of the linkage to the control member, which actuating link is engaged at all times with the holding member in a position to transmit unlatching motion to the latter.

Thus, when the control member is blocked by the abutment member it provides a fixed fulcrum for the actuator link, and the outside operated linkage transmits motion through said actuator link, swinging the latter about its anchored fulcrum on the control member. 011 the other hand, with the abutment member shifted to an inoperative, unlocking position, out of blocking rel-a; tion to the control member, a manipulation of. the outside actuator or operator simply causes motion to be transmitted through the linkage to the control member, which swings idly or free wheels, lacking restraintjby' the abutment memben The actuator member of the linkage:

Another object is to provide an improved lock which,

by reason of this shifting fulcrum type of free wheeling and actuator-disabling operation is of simplified and very inexpensive construction, as compared with locks of the free wheeling and blocking designs heretofore proposed.

The foregoing as well as other objects will become more apparent as this description proceeds, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a face elevational view showing the salient features of the improved lock as viewed from the inner side of its mounting frame, different positions of certain of its components being shown in dotted and solid lines; and

Figs. 2 and 3 are views in vertical section along lines 2-2 and 33 of Fig. 1. 7

There are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 only the essential bolt latching, locking and unlocking features of the improved lock, generally designated 10; and it is to be understood that these features, particularly of the door latching bolt shown in Fig. 2 and designated 11, are intended for association and coaction with a fixed keeper or striker unit of any suitable type. Such keeper is indicated in light dot-dash line in Fig. 1, being only generally designated by the reference numeral 12. Such units are well known in the art and constitute no part of the present invention.

Moreover the bolt 11 shown is of the rotary starshaped type, for rolling engagement of its tooth projections with the keeper 12 as the door is closed, then held against reverse rotation by the lock provisions 10 of the invention. However, it is contemplated that other rotative types of bolt, segmental for example, may be substituted.

A stamped, laterally flanged frame plate 14 for lock structure it) is provided which is fixed on the free outer edge of the door, with the bolt 11 partially exposed on the outer side of plate 14 for locking engagement with the keeper 12. Bolt 11 is rotatably mounted by the frame 14 and by a supplemental housing 15 in part encasing it, this housing being associated with the frame plate 14 in a conventional manner. Similarly in conventional manner, the bolt 11 has a toothed latching member or wheel 16 fixed coaxially thereto on the opposite, inner side of the plate 14, i.e., to the right as viewed in Fig. 2.

In accordance with the invention, the lock device 10' hereinafter described in detail. 1 Holding or detent mem-- her 18 is journalled at its center, or approximate zone of convergence of its three arms, by means of a pin or equivalent pivot member 19 fixed on the frame plate 14 and projectingfrom the side thereof on which the toothed latching wheel 16 is disposed.

A control member, generally designated is also journalled on plate 14 for rotation on a common axis with detent member 18, the pin 19 constituting a fixed pivot for both members. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the control member 20 has an offset, outwardly projecting abutment element or nose 21 formed integral therewith, for a purpose to be described, which abutment nose faces toward an integral flange 22 of the frame plate 14 The reference numeral 23 generallydesignates an actuating means or linkage of which control member 20 may be considered a part, and which connects the detent member 18 for actuation by an outside operating member or actuator lever 24-, which lever is pivotally mounted at 25 on the plate 14, being actuated in a conventional manner by an outside door handle (not shown). Linkage 23 further includes an actuating member or link 26 pivoted to the operator or actuator 24 by means of a pin 27 located downwardly of the actuators frame pivot 25. Another member of the actuating means or linkage 23 is in the form of an actuating link 28 pivoted at its lower end, as by means of a pin 29, to the frame-pivoted control member or element 20, adjacent the abutment nose 21 of the latter. Actuating link 28 is pivotally articulated, as by means of a further pin 36) located intermediate its length, to the adjacent end of the first link 26.

Pin 30 thus constitutes a floating pivot between the link members 28 and 26, just as the pin 29 constitutes a floating pivot between the actuating link 28 and the control member 20. The difference is that the float of the pivot 29 may be halted by blocking the swing of control member 20, whereupon pin 2 becomes a fixed fulcrum for actuating link 28, with the result to be described.

The holding or detent member 18, only generally referred to above, includes a latch detent arm 32 which engages one of the tooth-like projections 33 of the starshaped bolt latching wheel 16 to restrain its counterclockwise, bolt releasing rotation; an actuated arm 34 at approximately 120 to the detent arm 32, the arm 34 being provided with an integral lateral offset 35; and an arm 36 for the operation of detent member 18 from the inside of the door, arm 36 being approximately equidistant angularly between the arms 32 and 34. A suitable spring 37 urges detent member 13 for latching engagement of its arm 32 with wheel 16. i

As shown in Fig. l, the actuating link member 23 of actuating linkage 23 projects upwardly, beyond its floating pivot 30 to the link 26, for engagement of its terminal portion 38 behind the offset lug 35 of the actuated arm 34 of member 18. Thus it is seen that, with the control member 26 restrained against clockwise movement about its pivot pin 19 (by the abutment provisions to be described), and with the outside actuator 24 moved clockwise about its pivot 25 to apply thrust through link 26 to actuating link 28, the pivot pin 29 of the latter becomes a fixed pivot or fulcrum about which the member 28 will be swung counterclockwise, thus correspondingly swinging the detent members arm 34 about its pivot at 19, from the solid line to the dot-dash line position of these parts shown in Fig. l. The result is to swing the detent arm 32 out of engagement with the tooth 33 of latch wheel member 16, permitting rotation of the latter and of the bolt '11 in a direction to release the door from keeper 12..

The other arm 36 of the detent or holding member 18 is adapted for similar shifting of the detent or holding member 18 to unlatching position under force applied by an inside operated element, generally designated 40. Member 40 is in the form of a bell crank which is pivoted at 41 on the integral 90 flange 22 of the frame P1t;14 ,;agljaceutanedge of the flange remote from the plate 14 proper. The bell crank member 40 has an integral arm 43 projecting toward this plate surface and positioned above the arm 36 of holding member 18. Thus, as the inside operated bell crank 40 is rotated clockwise about its pivot 41 (asby the usual inside door handle, not shown), it engages the arm 36 to swing holding member 18, against the opposition of spring 37, to the inoperative, latch releasing position referred to above.

An abutment arm or lever member 45 governs the movement (or lack of movement) of control member 29 at its abutment nose 21 and pivot pin 29, for the purposes described, the arm member or lever 45 being pivoted on frame flange 22 by means of the pivot pin 41. This abutment member projects in the general direction of the bell crank arm 43 and has a laterally offset lug 45 at its outer end. Member 45 will be provided with suitable means (not shown) to manipulate the same to and from .its operative abutment-affording position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, in which it blocks the nose 21 of control member 20, thus conditioning the latter to anchor pivot pin 29 and enable link member 23 to operate and unlatch the door in the .manner described above.

Such operating provisions will include a connection in a well known way to the usual inside push button (not shown) of the automotive door, preferably so that when the push button is depressed the abutment member 45 will be swung counter-clockwise and up (Fig. 3) about its pivot 41, out of blocking relation to the control member abutment nose 21.

In the last named condition of the parts, the control member is freed from restraint by abutment member 45, and may swing from its solid line position of Fig. l, to or toward a position such as is shown in dotted line. Thus, when actuator 24 is manipulated clockwise, the linkage 23 is unrestrained by the abutment member 45, and the pivot at 29 becomes a floating one, since spring 37 will hold detent member 18 engaged with latch wheel 16. The link 28 is now restrained only by the engagement of its terminal portion 38 with the lug 35 of holding member arm 34, and actuating link 28 swings idly with this point of engagement as a fulcrum. No action is transmitted having the effect of disengaging the detent arm 32 from the toothed latch member 33.

The inside operated bell crank member 40 may also be employed to place abutment arm 45 in its inoperative, non-abutment locking position, and for this purpose it is provided with an intermediate offset lug 48 to engage upwardly beneath abutment arm or member 45 when the inside operated member 40 is swung counter-clockwise, i.e., in the direction opposite its motion to unlatch holding member 18. To a similar end, the door may be provided with a standard type outside, key operated connection (not shown) to the abutment member 45 to shift the same to and from operative blocking position shown in .solid line in Fig. 3 to the inoperative disabling or unlocking position shown in dotted line in that figure.

The invention affords a very simple and inexpensive lock, in which the principle of disabling an actuating structure, such as the actuator 24 and actuating linkage 23 from an operating and unlatching holding member, such as the member 18, is accomplished by a free wheeling effect. Yet this is done without at any time mechanically disengaging the actuating structure from the holding member 18, as has been the case in all previous free wheeling lock units.

This is made possible in an improved and simplified fashion by providing movable abutment means, such as the member 45, in accordance with the position of which the fulcrum of an operating member of linkage is shifted to one or the other of two points spaced from its pivot, thereby determining whether the linkage transmits un latching effort to the holding member, or simply idles about a fulcrum about its point of engagement with that member.

The drawings and the ,foregoing specification constitute a description of the improved free wheeling door lock in such full, clear, concise and exact terms as to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, the scope of which is indicated by the appended claims.

What we claim as our invention is:

1. In a vehicle door lock having a movable latch unit, a frame, a lock actuator, a holding member mounted on said frame for movement out of normal position in which it engages and holds said latch unit to prevent unlocking movement of the later, means including an actuating linkage having a substantially continuous connecting and operating engagement to and between said actuator and said holding member to effect said movement of the latter, and means to disable said actuating linkage from so operating said holding member, without substantially interrupting the continuity of engagement of said linkage with said actuator and holding member, said linkage comprising a control member having a movable mount on said frame, and a one-piece actuating member adapted to operate said holding member and pivotally mounted on said control member in spaced relation to the mount of the latter, said disabling means comprising an abutment member movable on said frame into and out of position in which it blocks substantial movement of said control member on the frame, said actuating member as operated by said actuator engaging said holding member to operate the latter for said movement out of normal holding position when pivotal movement of said control member is blocked by said abutment member.

2. In a vehicle door lock having a movable latch unit, a frame, a lock actuator, a holding member pivotally mounted on said frame for movement out of normal position in which it engages and holds said latch unit to prevent unlocking movement of the latter, means including an actuating linkage having a substantially continuous connecting and operating engagement to and between said actuator and said holding member to effect said movement of the latter, and means to disable said actuating linkage from so operating said holding member, without substantially interrupting the continuity of engagement of said linkage with said actuator and holding member, said linkage comprising a control member pivotally mounted on said frame, and a one-piece actuating member adapted to operate said holding member and pivotally mounted on said control member in spaced relation to the pivot of the latter, said disabling means comprising an abutment member movable on said frame into and out of position in which it blocks substantial pivotal movement of said control member on the frame, said actuating member as operated by said actuator engaging said holding member to operate the latter for said movement out of normal holding position when pivotal movement of said control member is blocked by said abutment member.

3. In a vehicle door lock having a movable latch unit, a frame, a lock actuator, a holding member pivotally mounted on said frame for movement out of normal position in which it engages and holds said latch unit to prevent unlocking movement of the latter, means including an actuating linkage having a substantially continuous connecting and operating engagement to and between said actuator and said holding member to effect said movement of the latter, and means to disable said actuating linkage from so operating said holding member, without substantially interrupting the continuity of engagement of said linkage with said actuator and holding member, said linkage comprising a control member pivotally mounted on said frame, an actuating member adapted to operate said holding member and pivotally mounted on said control member in spaced relation to the pivot of the latter, and a further member pivoted on said actuating member and operatively connecting the latter to said actuator, said disabling means comprising an abutment member movable on said frame into and out of'position in which it blocks substantial pivotal movement of said control member on the frame, said actuating member'as operated by said actuator engaging said holding member to operate the latter for said movement out of normal holding position when pivotal movement of said control member is blocked by said abutment member.

4. In a vehicle door lock, a frame, a holding member pivotally mounted on said frame for movement into and out of holding engagement with a latch unit, a control member pivotally mounted on said frame, an abutment member movable on said frame into and out of position in which it blocks substantial pivotal movement of said control member, a one-piece actuating member having means pivotally mounting the same on said control member in spaced relation to the mounting pivot of the latter, said actuating member operatively engaging said holding member in spaced relation to its own pivot, and means to operate said actuating member in a direction to move said holding member out of holding engagement with said latch unit when said abutment member is in blocking relation to said control member, said actuating member pivoting on said control member as a fulcrum when the latter is thus blocked, said actuating member pivoting about a fulcrum at its engagement with said holding member when said abutment member is moved out of blocking relation to said control member.

5. In a vehicle door lock, a frame, a holding member pivotally mounted on said frame for movement into and out of holding engagement with a latch unit, a control member pivotally mounted on said frame on an axis common to that of said holding member, an abutment member movable on said frame into and out of position in which it blocks substantial pivotal movement of said control member, a one-piece actuating member having means pivotally mounting the same on said control member in spaced relation to the mounting pivot of the latter, said actuating member operatively engaging said holding member in spaced relation to its own pivot, and means to operate said actuating member in a direction to move said holding member out of holding engagement with said latch unit when said abutment member is in blocking relation to said control member, said actuating member pivoting on said control member as a fulcrum when the latter is thus blocked, said actuating member pivoting about a fulcrum at its engagement with said holding member when said abutment member is moved out of blocking relation to said control member.

6. In a vehicle door lock having a movable latch unit, a frame, a holding member pivotally mounted on said frame for movement into and out of holding engagement with said latch unit, a control member pivotally mounted on said frame, an abutment member movable on said frame into and out of position in which it blocks substantial pivotal movement of said control member, actuating means having a one-piece actuating member pivotally mounted on said control member, said actuating member operatively engaging said holding member in spaced relation to its own pivot, and means to operate said actuating member in a direction to move said holding member out of holding engagement with said latch unit only when said abutment member is in blocking relation to and engaged by said control member, said actuating member as so operated and said control member having idling movement in relation to said holding member when said abutment member is out of blocking relation to said control member, said actuating member being operatively engaged with but ineffective in said idling movement to move with holding member out of holding engagement with said latch unit.

7. In a vehicle door lock having a movable latch unit, a frame, an actuator mounted for movement relative to said frame, a holding member pivotally mounted on said frame for movement into and out of holding engagement with said latch unit, a control member pivotally mounted on said frame, and actuating means movable on said control member, being operatively engaged at all times with said holding member and control memher, said last named means acting to transmit force to said holding member with the assistance of said control member to move said holding member out of said holding engagement, an abutment member movable on said frame into and out of position in which it blocks substantial pivotal movement of said control member, and a linkage operatively connected to said actuator and including a one-piece actuator link pivotally mounted on said control member in spaced relation to the pivot of the latter, said actuator link operatively engaging said holding member in spaced relation to its own pivot, thereby upon actuation of said linkage to move said holding member out of holding engagement with said latch unit when said abutment member is in blocking relation to said control member, said actuating means having idling movement about its point of engagement with said holding member when said abutment member is out of blocking relation to said control member.

8. A door lock in accordance with claim 1, in which said actuating member engages said holding member to operate the latter at a predetermined point, which point is a fulcrum for pivotal movement of the actuating member when pivotal movement of said control member is not blocked by said abutment member.

9. A door lock in accordance with claim 2, in which said actuating member engages said holding member to operate the latter at a predetermined point, which point is a fulcrum for pivotal movement of the actuating member when pivotal movement of said control member is not blocked by said abutment member.

10. A door lock in accordance with claim 6, in which said actuating member engages said holding member to operate the latter at a predetermined point, which point is a fulcrum for pivotal movement of the actuating member when pivotal movement of said control member is not blocked by said abutment member.

11. A door lock comprising a support having a detent mounted thereon for movement to and from position in which it is adapted to hold a latching member of the lock against movement to release a door, means urging said detent toward said holding position, detent actuating means operat-ively connected to said detent including a control member pivoted on said support and a one-piece actuating member operatively engageable with said detent to selectively operate the latter and having means to mount the same on said control member to swing about different fulcrum points to operate or, not operate, said detent for movement out of sai holding pos o as ete m ed b the. u crum p n f the actuating m mbe an ck n means o said lock including meansacting on said detent actuating means to selectively establish said fulcrum points.

12. A door lock comprising a supPOI having a detent mounted thereon for movement to and from position in which it is adapted to hold a latching member of the lock against movement to release a door, means urging said detent toward said holding position, detent operating means operatively connected to said detent including a control member pivoted on said support and a one-piece actuating member operatively engageable with said detent to selectively operate the latter and having means to mount the same on said control member to swing about different fulcrum points to operate or not operate said detent for movement out of said holding position, as determined by the fulcrum point of the actuating member, and locking means for said lock including means acting on said control member to selectively establish said fulcrum points.

13. A door lock comprising a support having a detent mounted thereon for movement to and from position in which it is adapted to hold a latching member of the lock against movement to release a door, means urging said detent toward said holding position, detent actuating means operatively connected to said detent including a control member pivoted on said support and a onepiece actuating member operatively eugageab'le with said detent to selectively operate the latter and having means to mount the same on said control member to swing about different fulcrum points to operate or not operate said detent for movement out of said holding position, as determined by the fulcrum point of the actuating member, and locking means for said lock including means acting on said detent actuating means to selectively establish said fulcrum points, said locking means comprising a member mounted on said support for movement to and from position in which it is engaged as a fixed support by said control member, whereby as so fulcrumed by said control member, said actuating member may be actuated to move said detent out of said holding position and when not so fulcrumed to cause said actuating member to swing idly relative to said detent when actuated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,909,210 Miller May 16, 1933 1,970,807 Lovell Aug. 21, 1934 2,636,764 Dall Apr. 28, 1953 2,876,032 Pickles Mar. 3, 1959 

